TWINSOLARSURF’s overall aim is to improve the knowledge, skills, competencies and innovation capacities of the research and administrative staff of the Laboratory of Surface Engineering (Triblab) of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of West Attica (UNI.W.A), Greece. The strategic target is the evolution of Triblab from a laboratory of a former technological institute to a unique in Greece, future-oriented research unit of an engineering school, strategically conceived as a self-sustained contact mechanics facility and eventually established as a reliable research partner for academia and industry at European level of innovation. In this perspective and in conjunction with EU and Greece’s transition into a carbon neutral economy by 2050, Triblab has partnered with two top-class EU Research Institutes, namely the Institute of Future Fuels of the German Aerospace Center/DLR and the Spanish CIEMAT-Plataforma Solar de Almeria. The consortium will work together on a strategic plan for co-developing a capacity building programme, sharing knowledge, integrating expertise and skills of institutes during and towards their transformation and evolution and delving into new research avenues. This endeavour will run in parallel with an exploratory project on the research playground of surface processing of metallic materials for use in aggressive environments (e.g. wear, abrasion, erosion, high temperature), via exploitation of solar energy, in an ambitious, yet pragmatic and feasible workplan based on previous relevant research efforts of the partners. The overall approach is fully linked to the European Green Deal strategy for green industrial technologies of the future, further penetration of renewable energies and building the skilled research personnel capable of addressing the global societal, political and environmental challenges of our future ecosystem.

ColteraTREC is a breakthrough cooling technology, which will radically change the way cooling is accomplished by eliminating the use of vapor-compression cycles, noxious refrigerants, and achieving energy efficiencies close to the theoretical maximum. ColteraTREC systems are lightweight, built from low-cost materials, and do not rely on any critical raw materials. ColteraTREC is based on a ground-breaking, Thermally Regenerative Electrochemical Cycle (TREC) technology, featuring best-in-class TREC electrolytes to enable extremely efficient thermodynamics and high power densities. The system includes innovative low-cost self-healing ion-conductive separators, that are based on biodegradable materials without any fluropolymers. Highly original, lightweight and compact regenerative heat exchangers elevate the thermodynamic efficiencies of the system. The project aims to build, operate and evaluate a lab-prototype ColteraTREC system to demonstrate the technology at a TRL4/5. Extensive characterization of system components and comprehensive modelling framework will provide a solid scientific and engineering foundation for system design and construction. Sustainability analysis will evaluate the environmental footprint of the system. Comprehensive communication plan will disseminate the project achievements and raise the awareness of ColteraTREC among key stakeholders. The ColteraTREC consortium features world-class multidisciplinary expertise from a combination of private enterprises and public Universities to achieve the objectives of the project. The innovator of ColteraTREC is a successful entrepreneur, with global track record of innovation, who will develop and commercialize the technology through a pioneering EU-based start-up company. ColteraTREC will bring clean and efficient cooling solutions to diverse market segments, with initial focus on thermal management of EVs and data centers.